PNG Hunters trio awarded

Papua New Guinea Hunters coach Michael Marum achieved a personal milestone last night at the Intruct Super Cup Awards in brisbane being named coach of the year.

The 41-year-old was recoginsed for overseeing the Hunters rise to genuine title contenders in only the second year in the competition.

Hooker Wartovo Puara won the the XXXX People’s Choice Award. while teammate Israel Eliab was named five-eighth of the year.

Wynnum manly Seagulls’ Patrick Templeman claimed the The Courier-Mail Medal in front of 350 guests at Brisbane City Hall.

Templeman, a Sunshine Coast junior who joined the Seagulls this year after a stint with the Canterbury Bulldogs, has impressed for Wynnum at both fullback and five-eighth.

The 22-year-old dominated the voting with 34 points, nine clear of Hunters five-eighth and skipper Israel Eliab (25). Templeman’s Wynnum Manly teammate Mitchell Frei finished in third on 23 points, while Robert Lui (Townsville, 22), Ryley Jacks (Burleigh 20), Luke Capewell (Redcliffe, 19), Cameron Cullen (Mackay, 19) and Matt Parcell (Ipswich, 19) were also prominent.  

The dominant season of the Townsville Blackhawks was acknowledged when the competition newcomers were presented with the John McDonald Minor Premiership Shield.

The Blackhawks had further reason to celebrate when four of their players – Jahrome Hughes, Kyle Feldt, Michael Parker-Walshe and Daniel Beasley – were named in the inaugural ‘Team of the Year’.

Marmin Barba’s scintillating form carried onto the red carpet, with the Ipswich speedster adding the Winger of the Year accolade to his Leading Try Scorer gong.

It was a special night for the fast growing women’s game as well with Heather Ballinger announced as the Women’s Representative Player of the Year.

A numbered Queensland Female Representative Players list was unveiled, while NRL CEO Dave Smith presented former captain Karyn Murphy with a commemorative jersey honouring her service to the game.

2015 QRL Award Winners: Carbine Club Rookie of the Year: Aaron Rockley (Wynnum Manly); Courier-Mail Medal: Patrick Templeman (Wynnum Manly); John McDonald Minor Premiership Shield: Townsville Blackhawks; Spotless Club Championship: Wynnum Manly;  FOGS Colts Challenge Player of the Year: Sam Grant (Burleigh Bears);  XXXX Representative Player of the Year: Shaun Nona (Easts Tigers); Stage and Screen Coach of the Year: Michael Marum (PNG Hunters); Struddys Intrust Super Cup Leading Points Scorer: Luke Capewell (Redcliffe Dolphins); Struddys Intrust Super Cup Leading Try Scorer: Marmin Barba (Ipswich Jets); XXXX People’s Choice Award: Wartovo Puara (PNG Hunters);  Canterbury Cyril Connell Cup Player of the Year: Ben Thomas (Gold Coast White); Canterbury Mal Meninga Cup Player of the Year: Gerome Burns (Toowoomba Clydesdales) and Trai Fuller (CQ Capras); Women’s Representative Player of the Year: Heather Ballinger.

2015 Team of the Year: Fullback of the Year: Jahrome Hughes (Townsville Blackhawks), Winger of the Year: Marmin Barba (Ipswich Jets), Centre of the Year: Kyle Feldt (Townsville  Blackhawks), Five-Eighth of the Year: Israel Eliab (PNG Hunters), Halfback of the Year: Michael Parker-Walshe (Townsville Blackhawks), Prop of the Year: Daniel Beasley (Townsville Blackhawks), Hooker of the Year: Josh Chudleigh (Mackay Cutters), Second Rower of the Year: Anthony Cherrington (Redcliffe Dolphins), Lock of the Year: Mitchell Frei (Wynnum Manly). – QRL.com